Floral sleeve with upper detachable portion

ABSTRACT

A decorative cover or container which is a flattened sleeve which includes a lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion with a plurality of portions extending from the base portion, and optionally an upper portion which is detachable via a detaching element, for example, perforations. Upon opening of the sleeve, the lower portion of the sleeve defines and encompasses an inner retaining space and in one embodiment conforms generally to the outer surface of a pot. The potted plant is disposed in the inner retaining space of the lower portion of the sleeve such that at least a portion of the pot is covered by the lower portion of the sleeve. The lower portion of the sleeve is detachable from the upper portion, when the upper portion is present, by tearing along the detaching element forming an upper edge of the lower portion of the sleeve. The upper edge may be non-linear. The lower portion may be tapered and may have a gusset in the lower end.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser.No. 09/665,541, filed, Sep. 19, 2000, now abandoned, which is acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/197,111 filed Nov. 20, 1998 which is acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/880,358 filed Jun. 23, 1997, now U.S.Pat. No. 5,842,569, issued Dec. 1, 1998, which is a continuation of U.S.Ser. No. 08/318,062, filed Oct. 4, 1994, entitled “FLORAL SLEEVE WITHUPPER PORTION DETACHABLE VIA ANGULAR PERFORATIONS”, which is acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/237,078, filed May 3, 1994, entitled“SLEEVE HAVING A DETACHABLE PORTION FORMING A SKIRT AND METHODS”, nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,625,979, issued on May 6, 1997. Each of theseapplications is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention generally relates to sleeves, and, moreparticularly, to sleeves used to wrap flower pots containing floralgroupings and/or mediums containing floral groupings, and methods ofusing same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a sleeve having a detachingelement constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0004]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 having apotted plant disposed therein.

[0005]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pot such as might be used withthe sleeve of the present invention.

[0006]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the potted plant disposed in thesleeve of FIG. 2 after an upper portion of the sleeve has been removedto provide a pot cover having a skirt.

[0007]FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a version of the sleeve of FIG. 1with a gusseted bottom.

[0008]FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway, elevational view of an alternateversion of the sleeve of FIG. 1 wherein a bonding material is disposedupon an upper end of the sleeve.

[0009]FIG. 7 is an elevational view of an alternate version of thesleeve of FIG. 1 having a folding flap.

[0010]FIG. 8 is an elevational view of an alternate version of thesleeve of FIG. 1 having a bonding material disposed on a portion of aninner surface of the sleeve.

[0011]FIG. 9 is an elevational view of an alternate version of thesleeve of FIG. 1 having a bonding material disposed on a portion of anouter surface of the sleeve.

[0012]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the sleeve of FIG. 9crimped about a pot.

[0013]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the crimped sleeve of FIG. 10.

[0014]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of FIG. 9 whereina crimped portion is formed above an upper end of a pot.

[0015]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the crimped sleeve of FIG. 12wherein a crimped portion is formed above a pot.

[0016]FIG. 14 is an elevational view of another version of the sleeve ofFIG. 1 having an extended portion serving as a support extension.

[0017]FIG. 15 is an elevational view of another version of the sleeve ofFIG. 1 having an extended portion serving as a handle.

[0018]FIG. 16 is an elevational view of another version of the sleeve ofFIG. 1 having an additional detaching element for enhancing theextension of a skirt portion of the sleeve after detachment of an upperportion of the sleeve.

[0019]FIG. 17 is an elevational view of the sleeve of FIG. 16 after theupper portion has been removed.

[0020]FIG. 18 is an elevational view of another version of a sleeve ofFIG. 1 having notched perforated areas for enhancing extension of theskirt portion of the sleeve after detachment of an upper portion of thesleeve.

[0021]FIG. 19 is an elevational view of the sleeve of FIG. 18 after theupper portion has been removed.

[0022]FIG. 20 is an elevational view of an alternate version of a sleeveof the present invention wherein an upper portion of the sleeve isconstructed of a different material than a lower portion of the sleeve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The present invention contemplates a plant packaging systemcomprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorativecover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. Theprotective sleeve portion can be detached from the decorative coverportion of the plant packaging system once the protective function ofthe sleeve portion has been completed, thereby exposing the decorativecover portion and allowing the skirt to extend angularly from the base.The protective sleeve portion and decorative cover portion may be ofunitary construction or may be separate components which are attachedtogether by various bonding materials.

[0024] More specifically, the present invention contemplates a plantcover for covering a pot having an outer peripheral surface. The plantcover comprises (1) a base portion having a lower end, an upper end, anouter peripheral surface, and an area of excess material for allowingextension of a portion of the base portion and having an openingextending from the upper end to the lower end, and (2) an upper portionextending from the upper end of the base portion and detachabletherefrom, and wherein when the upper portion is detached from the upperend of the base portion, the area of excess material expands causingportions of the base portion to extend angularly from the base. Ingeneral, the base portion is sized to substantially cover the outerperipheral surface of the pot. The upper portion may be detachable via adetaching element such as perforations, tear strips and zippers. Theplant cover may have an extended portion extending from the upperportion for serving as a handle or support device.

[0025] More particularly, the present invention may be a plant covercomprising (1) a base portion having a lower end, an upper end, and anouter peripheral surface and having an opening extending from the upperend to the lower end, (2) an upper portion extending from the upper endof the base portion and detachable therefrom, (3) and an expansionelement integral to the base portion and optionally integral to theupper portion, for allowing expansion of a portion of the base portioninto a skirt portion extending angularly from the base portion when theupper portion is detached from the upper end of the base portion. Theexpansion element may be a plurality of vertical pleats, a plurality ofvertical folds each having a Z-shaped cross section, a plurality ofvertical accordion-type folds, or other similar types of expandableforms.

[0026] More particularly, the plant cover may comprise (1) a baseportion having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface,and having an opening extending from the upper end to the lower end, (2)a skirt portion attached to the base portion and having an upper end andextending a distance beyond the upper end of the base portion, (3) anexpansion element integral to at least one of the skirt portion and thebase portion for enabling at least a portion of the skirt portion to beextended angularly from the base portion, and (4) an upper portionattached to the upper end of the skirt portion and detachable therefrom,and wherein when the upper portion is detached from the upper end of theskirt portion, the expansion element enables the skirt portion to beextended angularly from the base portion.

[0027] The present invention further contemplates a tubular sleeve forcontaining a pot assembly, and having a lower end, an upper end, anouter peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface surrounding aninner retaining space. The tubular sleeve may comprise (1) a baseportion having a lower end and an upper end and a retaining space forenclosing the pot assembly, and sized to substantially cover the potassembly, (2) a skirt portion extending beyond the upper end of the baseportion and continuous therewith and having an upper peripheral edge,and (3) an upper portion having an upper peripheral edge and a lowerperipheral edge, the lower peripheral edge connected to the upperperipheral edge of the skirt portion and detachable therefrom andextending a distance therefrom, and sized to substantially surround andencompass a floral grouping, and wherein when the upper portion isdetached from the upper peripheral edge of the skirt portion, the skirtportion extends angularly from the base portion.

[0028] The tubular sleeve may further comprise an expansion elementintegral to at least one of the skirt portion and the base portion forenhancing the angular extension of at least a portion of the skirtportion away from the base portion. The base portion and the skirtportion may be constructed from a first material and the upper portionmay be constructed from a second material different from the firstmaterial.

[0029] The tubular sleeve may form part of a plant package when used inconjunction with a pot assembly disposed within the retaining space ofthe base portion of the tubular sleeve, the pot assembly having a floralgrouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot assembly is substantiallysurrounded and encompassed by the base portion and the floral groupingis substantially surrounded and encompassed by the upper portion.

[0030] The present invention further contemplates a plant covercomprising, (1) a base portion having a lower end, an upper end, anouter peripheral surface, and having an opening extending from the upperend to the lower end, (2) a skirt portion attached to the base portionand extending a distance beyond the upper end of the base portion, and(3) an upper portion connected to the outer peripheral surface of thebase portion and extending from the upper end of the base portion anddetachable therefrom and substantially surrounding the skirt portion,and wherein when the upper portion is detached from the upper end of thebase portion, the skirt portion is exposed allowing the skirt portion toextend angularly from the base portion. Further, the base portion maycomprise a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the upperportion. Also, the base portion may comprise a bonding material forbondingly connecting to a pot disposed therein. Further, the upperportion may comprise a bonding material for bondingly connecting to thebase portion. The plant cover may further comprise part of a plantpackage which includes a pot disposed within the inner retaining spaceof the base portion, the pot having a floral grouping disposed therein,and wherein the pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by thebase portion and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded andencompassed by the upper portion.

[0031] The present invention further contemplates a plant covercomprising (1) a tubular sleeve having a lower end, an upper end, anouter peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface surrounding aninner retaining space, and further comprising (a) a base portion forenclosing a pot, the base portion having an upper end and a lower endand sized to substantially cover an outer peripheral surface of the pot,and (b) an upper portion having an upper end and a lower end, the lowerend detachably connected to the upper end of the base portion andextending a distance therefrom, and wherein the upper portion is sizedto substantially surround and encompass a floral grouping disposedwithin the pot, and (2) a skirt portion positioned within the tubularsleeve and having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end attachedto the inner peripheral surface of the base portion, the upper end ofthe skirt portion freely extending a distance beyond the upper end ofthe base portion and substantially surrounded and encompassed by theupper portion and wherein when the upper portion is detached from theupper end of the base portion, the skirt portion is exposed allowing theskirt portion to be extended angularly from the upper end of the baseportion.

[0032] The base portion and the skirt portion of the tubular sleeve maybe constructed from a first material and the upper portion constructedfrom a second material different from the first material. The baseportion and the upper portion of the tubular sleeve may be constructedfrom a first material and the skirt portion constructed from a secondmaterial different from the first material. The plant cover may comprisea portion of a plant package which additionally comprises a pot disposedwithin the tubular sleeve, the pot having a floral grouping disposedtherein, and wherein the pot is substantially surrounded and encompassedby the base portion and the floral grouping is substantially surroundedand encompassed by the upper portion.

[0033] These embodiments and others of the present invention are nowdescribed in more detail below.

[0034] The Embodiments and Methods of Use of FIGS. 1-20

[0035] Shown in FIG. 1 and designated therein by the general referencenumeral 10 is a flexible bag or sleeve of unitary construction. Thesleeve 10 initially comprises a flexible flat collapsed piece ofmaterial which is openable in the form of a tube or sleeve. The sleeve10 may be tapered outwardly from the lower end toward a larger diameterat its upper end. In its flattened state the sleeve 10 has an overalltrapezoidal or modified trapezoidal shape, and when opened issubstantially frusto-conical to coniform. It will be appreciated,however, that the sleeve 10 may comprise variations on theaforementioned shapes or may comprise significantly altered shapes suchas square or rectangular, wherein the sleeve 10 when opened has acylindrical form, as long as the sleeve 10 functions in accordance withthe present invention in the manner described herein.

[0036] The sleeve 10 has an upper end 12, a lower end 14, an outerperipheral surface 16 and in its flattened state has a first side 18 anda second side 20. The sleeve 10 has an opening 21 (FIG. 2) at the upperend 12 and may be open at the lower end 14, or provided with excessmaterial at least sufficient to form a closed bottom of the sleeve 10 atthe lower end 14. The sleeve 10 also has an inner peripheral surface 22which, when the sleeve 10 is opened, defines and encompasses an innerretaining space 24 as shown in FIG. 2. When the lower end 14 of thesleeve 10 has a closed bottom, a portion of the lower end 14 may beinwardly folded to form one or more gussets for permitting a circularbottom of an object such as a potted plant 30 (FIGS. 2 and 4) to bedisposed into the inner retaining space 24 of the lower end 14 of thesleeve 10.

[0037] The sleeve 10 is generally frusto-conically shaped, but thesleeve 10 may be, by way of example but not by way of limitation,cylindrical, frusto-conical, a combination of both frusto-conical andcylindrical, or any other shape, as long as the sleeve 10 functions asdescribed herein as noted above. Further, the sleeve 10 may comprise anyshape, whether geometric, non-geometric, asymmetrical and/or fanciful aslong as it functions in accordance with the present invention. Thesleeve 10 may also be equipped with one or more drain holes (59) orventilation holes (not shown), or can be made from permeable orimpermeable materials.

[0038] The material from which the sleeve 10 is constructed has athickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Often, thethickness of the sleeve 10 is in a range from about 0.5 mil to about 10mils. Preferably, the sleeve 10 has a thickness in a range from about1.0 mil to about 5 mils. More preferably, the sleeve 10 is constructedfrom a material which is flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, or any combinationthereof. The sleeve 10 may be constructed of a single layer of materialor a plurality of layers of the same or different types of materials.Any thickness of the material may be utilized as long as the materialfunctions in accordance with the present invention as described herein.The layers of material comprising the sleeve 10 may be connectedtogether or laminated or may be separate layers. Such materials used toconstruct the sleeve 10 are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637entitled “Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping” issued to Weder et al.,on May 12, 1992, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference. Any thickness of material may be utilized in accordance withthe present invention as long as the sleeve 10 may be formed asdescribed herein, and as long as the formed sleeve 10 may contain atleast a portion of a pot 32 or the potted plant 30 or a floral grouping,as described herein. Additionally, an insulating material such as bubblefilm, preferable as one of two or more layers, can be utilized in orderto provide additional protection for the item, such as the floralgrouping, contained therein.

[0039] In one embodiment, the sleeve 10 may be constructed from twopolypropylene films. The material comprising the sleeve 10 may beconnected together or laminated or may be separate layers. In analternative embodiment, the sleeve 10 may be constructed from only oneof the polypropylene films.

[0040] The sleeve 10 may also be constructed, in whole or in part, froma cling material. “Cling Wrap or Material” when used herein means anymaterial which is capable of connecting to the sheet of material and/oritself upon contacting engagement during the wrapping process and iswrappable about an item whereby portions of the cling materialcontactingly engage and connect to other portions of another material,or, alternatively, itself, for generally securing the material wrappedabout at least a portion of the pot 32. This connecting engagement ispreferably temporary in that the material may be easily removed, i.e.,the cling material “clings” to the pot 32.

[0041] The cling material is constructed and treated if necessary, frompolyethylene such as Cling Wrap made by Glad®, First Brands Corporation,Danbury, Conn. The thickness of the cling material will, in part, dependupon the size of sleeve 10 and the size of the pot 32 in the sleeve 10,i.e., generally, a larger pot 32 may require a thicker and thereforestronger cling material. The cling material will range in thickness fromless than about 0.1 mil to about 10 mils, and preferably less than about0.5 mil to about 2.5 mils and most preferably from less than about 0.6mil to about 2 mils. However, any thickness of cling material may beutilized in accordance with the present invention which permits thecling material to function as described herein.

[0042] The sleeve 10 is constructed from any suitable material that iscapable of being formed into a sleeve and wrapped about the potted plant30 or the pot 32. Preferably, the material comprises paper (untreated ortreated in any manner), metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film,fabric (woven or nonwoven or synthetic or natural), cardboard, fiber,cloth, burlap, or laminations or combinations thereof.

[0043] The term “polymeric film” means a material made of a syntheticpolymer such as a polypropylene or a naturally occurring polymer such ascellophane. A polymeric film is relatively strong and not as subject totearing (substantially non-tearable), as might be the case with paper orfoil.

[0044] The material employed in the construction of the sleeve 10 mayvary in color and may consist of designs or decorative patterns whichare printed, etched, and/or embossed thereon using inks or otherprinting materials. An example of an ink which may be applied to thesurface of the material is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,706 entitled“Water Based Ink On Foil And/Or Synthetic Organic Polymer” issued toKingman on Sep. 15, 1992 and which is hereby expressly incorporatedherein by reference.

[0045] In addition, the material may have various colorings, coatings,flocking and/or metallic finishes, or other decorative surfaceornamentation applied separately or simultaneously or may becharacterized totally or partially by pearlescent, translucent,transparent, iridescent, neon, or the like, qualities. Each of theabove-named characteristics may occur alone or in combination and may beapplied to the upper and/or lower surface of the material comprising thesleeve 10. Moreover, portions of the material used in constructing thesleeve 10 may vary in the combination of such characteristics. Thematerial utilized for the sleeve 10 itself may be opaque, translucent,transparent, or partially clear or tinted transparent.

[0046] It will generally be desired to use the sleeve 10 as a coveringfor the potted plant 30 (FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 3, the pot 32 has anupper rim 34, a lower end 36, an outer peripheral surface 38, and aninner peripheral surface 39 which encompasses an inner retaining space40 for retaining a floral grouping or plant 42. The lower end 36 of thepot 32 is closed but may have holes for permitting water drainage. Theterm “pot” as used herein refers to any type of container used forholding the floral grouping or plant 42. Examples of pots, used inaccordance with the present invention include, but not by way oflimitation, clay pots, wooden pots, plastic pots, ceramic pots, potsmade from natural and/or synthetic fibers, or any combination thereof.The pot 32 is adapted to receive the floral grouping 42 in the innerretaining space 40. The floral grouping 42 may be disposed within thepot 32 along with a suitable growing medium described in further detailbelow, or other retaining medium, such as a floral foam. It will also beunderstood that the floral grouping 42, and any appropriate growingmedium or other retaining medium, may be disposed in the sleeve 10without the pot 32.

[0047] The term “floral grouping” as used herein means cut freshflowers, artificial flowers, a single flower or other fresh and/orartificial plants or other floral materials and may include othersecondary plants and/or ornamentation or artificial or natural materialswhich add to the aesthetics of the overall floral grouping. The floralgrouping 42 comprises a bloom or foliage portion and a stem portion.Further, the floral grouping 42 may comprise a growing potted planthaving a root portion (not shown) as well. However, it will beappreciated that the floral grouping may consist of only a single bloomor only foliage, or a botanical item (not shown), or a propagule (notshown). The term “floral grouping” may be used interchangeably hereinwith both the terms “floral arrangement” and “potted plant”. The term“floral grouping” may also be used interchangeably herein with the terms“botanical item” and/or “propagule.”

[0048] The term “growing medium” when used herein means any liquid,solid or gaseous material used for plant growth or for the cultivationof propagules, including organic and inorganic materials such as soil,humus, perlite, vermiculite, sand, water, and including the nutrients,fertilizers or hormones or combinations thereof required by the plantsor propagules for growth.

[0049] The term “botanical item” when used herein means a natural orartificial herbaceous or woody plant, taken singly or in combination.The term “botanical item” also means any portion or portions of naturalor artificial herbaceous or woody plants including stems, leaves,flowers, blossoms, buds, blooms, cones, or roots, taken singly or incombination, or in groupings of such portions such as bouquet or floralgrouping.

[0050] The term “propagule” when used herein means any structure capableof being propagated or acting as an agent of reproduction includingseeds, shoots, stems, runners, tubers, plants, leaves, roots or spores.

[0051] In accordance with the present invention, a bonding material maybe disposed on a portion of the sleeve 10 to assist in holding thesleeve 10 to the pot 32 having the floral grouping 42 therein when thepot 32 is disposed within the sleeve 10 or to assist in closing theupper end 12 of the sleeve 10 or adhering the sleeve 10 to the pot 32after the pot 32 has been disposed therein, as will be discussed infurther detail below.

[0052] It will be understood that the bonding material may be disposedas a strip or block on a surface of the sleeve 10. The bonding materialmay also be disposed upon either the outer peripheral surface 16 or theinner peripheral surface 22 of the sleeve 10, as well as upon the pot32. Further, the bonding material may be disposed as spots of bondingmaterial, or in any other geometric, non-geometric, asymmetric, orfanciful form, and in any pattern including covering either the entireinner peripheral surface and/or outer peripheral surface of the sleeve10 and/or the pot or pot cover. The bonding material may be covered by acover or release strip which can be removed prior to the use of thesleeve, pot or pot cover. The bonding material can be applied by meansknown to those of ordinary skill in their art. One method for disposinga bonding material, in this case an adhesive, is described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,111,637 entitled “Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping” issued toWeder et al., on May 12, 1992, which has been incorporated by referenceabove.

[0053] The term “bonding material” when used herein means an adhesive,frequently a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive. When thebonding material is a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must beplaced on the adjacent surface for bondingly contacting and bondinglyengaging with the cohesive material. The term “bonding material” alsoincludes materials which are heat sealable and, in this instance, theadjacent portions of the material must be brought into contact and thenheat must be applied to effect the seal. The term “bonding material”also includes materials which are sonic sealable and vibratory sealable.The term “bonding material” when used herein also means a heat sealinglacquer or hot melt material which may be applied to the material and,in this instance, heat, sound waves, or vibrations, also must be appliedto effect the sealing.

[0054] The term “bonding material” when used herein also means any typeof material or thing which can be used to effect the bonding orconnecting of the two adjacent portions of the material or sheet ofmaterial to effect the connection or bonding described herein. The term“bonding material” may also include ties, labels, bands, ribbons,strings, tapes (including single or double-sided adhesive tapes),staples or combinations thereof. Some of the bonding materials wouldsecure the ends of the material while other bonding material may bindthe circumference of a wrapper, or a sleeve, or, alternatively and/or inaddition, the bonding materials would secure overlapping folds in thematerial and/or sleeve. Another way to secure the wrapping and/or sleeveis to heat seal the ends of the material to another portion of thematerial. One way to do this is to contact the ends with an iron ofsufficient heat to heat seal the material.

[0055] Alternatively, a cold seal adhesive may be utilized as thebonding material. The cold seal adhesive adheres only to a similarsubstrate, acting similarly as a cohesive, and binds only to itself. Thecold seal adhesive, since it bonds only to a similar substrate, does notcause a residue to build up on equipment, thereby both permitting muchmore rapid disposition and use of such equipment to form articles andreducing labor costs. Further, since no heat is required to effect theseal, the dwell time, that is, the time for the sheet of material toform and retain the shape of an article, such as a flower pot cover orflower pot, is reduced. A cold seal adhesive binds quickly and easilywith minimal pressure, and such a seal is not readily releasable. Thischaracteristic is different from, for example, a pressure sensitiveadhesive.

[0056] The term “bonding material” when used herein also means any heator chemically shrinkable material, and static electrical or otherelectrical materials, chemical welding materials, magnetic materials,mechanical or barb-type fastening materials or clamps, curl-typecharacteristics of the film or materials incorporated in material whichcan cause the material to take on certain shapes, cling films, slots,grooves, shrinkable materials and bands, curl materials, springs, andany type of welding method which may weld portions of the material toitself or to the pot, or to both the material itself and the pot.

[0057] Certain versions of the sleeve 10 described herein may be used inconjunction with a preformed plant cover as explained in greater detailbelow.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 1, the sleeve 10 is demarcated into an upperportion 44 having an outer surface area 45 and a lower portion 46 havingan outer surface area 47. The lower portion 46 of the sleeve 10 ispreferably sized to contain and tapered to fit the potted plant 30 orpot 32. The upper portion 44 of the sleeve 10 is preferably sized tosubstantially surround and enclose the floral grouping 42 of the pottedplant 30 disposed within the lower portion 46 of the sleeve 10. Thesleeve 10 is demarcated into the upper portion 44 and the lower portion46 by a detaching element 48 for enabling the detachment of the upperportion 44 of the sleeve 10 from the lower portion 46 of the sleeve 10.In the present version, the detaching element 48 is a plurality ofgenerally laterally-oriented, alternatingly diagonally-oriented ornon-linear (curved) perforations which extend circumferentially acrossthe outer peripheral surface 16 of the sleeve 10 from the first side 18to the second side 20. The term “detaching element,” as used generallyherein, means any element, or combination of elements, or features, suchas, but not by way of limitation, perforations, tear strips, zippers,and any other devices or elements of this nature known in the art, orany combination thereof, which enable the tearing away or detachment ofone object from another. Therefore, while perforations are shown anddescribed in detail herein, it will be understood that tear strips,zippers, or any other “detaching elements” known in the art, or anycombination thereof, could be substituted therefore and/or usedtherewith.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lowerportion 46 of the sleeve 10 further comprises a base portion 50, and askirt portion 52. The base portion 50 has a lower end which is the lowerend 14 of the tubular sleeve 10 and an upper end 51. The base portion 50comprises that part of the lower portion 46 which, when the pot 32 isplaced into the lower portion 46, has an inner peripheral surface whichis substantially adjacent to and surrounds the outer peripheral surface38 the pot 32. The skirt portion 52 extends from the upper end 51 of thebase portion 50 and comprises that part of the lower portion 46 whichcomprises a plurality of portions 53 which extend from the base portion50 beyond the upper rim 34 of the pot 32 and adjacent at least a portionof the floral grouping 42 contained within the pot 32 and which is leftto freely extend at an angle, inwardly or outwardly, from the baseportion 50 when the upper portion 44 of the sleeve 10 is detached fromthe lower portion 46 of the sleeve 10 by actuation of the detachingelement 48. In the intact sleeve 10, the skirt portion 52 comprises anupper peripheral edge congruent with the detaching element 48 which isconnected to a lower peripheral edge, also congruent with the detachingelement 48, of the upper portion 44 of the sleeve 10. In FIGS. 1 and 2,the upper peripheral edge of the skirt portion 52 is congruent with aseries of alternatingly diagonally-oriented lines of perforations whichtogether form a zig-zag and comprise the detaching element 48. Theperforations of detaching element 48 may be non-linear (or curved).

[0060] In a preferred embodiment at least a portion of the plurality ofperforations of the detaching element 48 is spaced a distance 55 a fromthe lower end 14 of the base portion 50 (also referred to herein as thelower end 14 of the sleeve 10) of the lower portion 46, wherein thedistance 55 a is less than half of a length 55 b between the upper end12 of the upper portion 44 and the lower end 14 of the base portion 50of the lower portion 46, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0061] The upper portion 44 of the sleeve 10 may also have an additionaldetaching element 54 indicated as a plurality of vertical perforationsfor facilitating removal of the upper portion 44 and which are disposedmore or less vertically therein extending between the detaching element48 and the upper end 12 of the sleeve 10 (which is also the upper end ofthe upper portion 44). The upper portion 44 of the sleeve 10 isseparable from the lower portion 46 of the sleeve 10 by tearing theupper portion 44 along both the detaching element 54 and the detachingelement 48, thereby separating the upper portion 44 from the lowerportion 46 of the sleeve 10. The lower portion 46 of the sleeve 10remains disposed as the base portion 50 about the pot 32 and the skirtportion 52 about the floral grouping 42 thereby forming a decorativecover 56 as shown in FIG. 4 which substantially surrounds andencompasses the flower pot 32.

[0062] It will be understood that equipment and devices for formingfloral sleeves are commercially available, and are well known to aperson of ordinary skill in the art.

[0063] As noted above, the sleeve 10 may have an open or closed lowerend 14. When the lower end 14 is closed the lower end 14 may have one ormore gussets 60 formed therein such as that seen in sleeve 10 a in FIG.5 for allowing expansion of the lower end 14 when an object with a broadlower end such as the pot 32 is disposed therein. In another version ofthe present invention, as shown in sleeve 10 b in FIG. 6, a strip ofbonding material 62 may be disposed on the inner peripheral surface 22of the upper portion 44 of the sleeve 10 b generally in the vicinity ofthe upper end 12 of the sleeve 10 b for allowing the upper end 12 to besealed for enclosing the upper portion 44 of the sleeve 10 b about afloral grouping disposed therein. In another version of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 7, a sleeve 10 c comprises a flap 64 positionedat the upper end 12 which can be folded over and sealed with a flapbonding strip 66 to an adjacent portion of the outer peripheral surface16 of the sleeve 10 c near the upper end 12 thereof. Other versions ofthe sleeve (not shown) may comprise ventilation holes or drainage forallowing movement of gases or moisture to and away from the inner spaceof the sleeve.

[0064] In another version of the present invention, shown in FIG. 8, asleeve 10 d is exactly like the sleeve 10 but further comprises an innerstrip of bonding material 68 disposed upon a portion of the innerperipheral surface 22 of the base portion 50 of the sleeve 10 d. Thestrip of bonding material 68 functions to enable the inner peripheralsurface 22, or a portion thereof, to be bondingly connected to the outerperipheral surface 38 of the pot 32 disposed therein causing the sleeve10 d to be bondingly connected to the pot 32.

[0065] In yet another version of the present invention, shown in FIGS.9-13, a bonding material 70 is disposed on a portion of the outerperipheral surface 16 of the base portion 50 of a sleeve 10 e. After thepot 32 is disposed in the inner retaining space 24 of the base portion50, the sleeve 10 e is manually or automatically crimped about the outerperipheral surface 38 of the pot 32 in the vicinity of the bondingmaterial 70 thereby forming overlapping folds 72 in the base portion 50which are bondingly connected together by the bonding material 70 to addstructural integrity to the base portion 50 and to cooperate to hold thebase portion 50 in the shape of a pot cover or for causing the baseportion 50 of the sleeve 10 e to engage the outer peripheral surface 38of the pot 32 and be held firmly thereabout. The bonding material 70 maybe disposed on the sleeve 10 e at a position below the upper rim 34 ofthe pot 32 (FIGS. 9-11) or may be disposed at a position on the baseportion 50 of the sleeve 10 e above the upper rim 34 of the pot 32 (suchas shown in FIGS. 12-13) such that the overlapping folds 72 crimpinglyformed are located in a position generally above the upper rim 34 of thepot 32.

[0066] In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 14, the sleeve designated as10 f, may further comprise an extended portion comprising a supportextension 76 which extends away from a portion of the upper end 12 ofthe sleeve 10 f. The support extension 76 has one or more apertures 78disposed therein thereby adapting the sleeve 10 f to be supported on asupport assembly (not shown) commercially available and known by one ofordinary skill in the art such as a pair of wickets for shipment,storage, assembly of the sleeve 10 f, placement of the pot 32 within thesleeve 10 f, or other functions known in the art. The support extension76 may have a plurality of perforations 80 or other detaching elementsfor allowing the support extension 76 to be removed from the upper end12 of the sleeve 10 f after the sleeve 10 f has been provided for use asdescribed elsewhere herein. In another version of the invention, shownin FIG. 15, a sleeve 10 g has an extended portion comprising a handle 82for carrying the potted plant package inside the sleeve 10 g. The sleeve10 g may further comprise a detaching element 84 comprising perforationsfor removing the handle 82 at a later time.

[0067] Other versions of the present invention shown in FIGS. 16-19, maycomprise additional perforated areas for enhancing angularity of theextension of the skirt portion away from the base portion after theupper portion of the sleeve has been detached. For example, sleeve 10 hin FIG. 16 comprises perforations 86 which extend vertically downwardfrom the downward-pointing apexes 88 in the detaching element 48,comprising lateral perforations, which demarcates the upper peripheraledge of the skirt portion 52 of the sleeve 10 h. After the upper portion44 of the sleeve 10 h is detached, the perforations 86 are open,allowing adjacent portions of the skirt portion 52 to be deflected at anincreased angle to the base portion 50 as shown in FIG. 17.

[0068] Similarly, sleeve 10 i in FIG. 18 comprises notch perforations 90which allow the removal of a notch of material 92 in the vicinity of thedownward-pointing apexes 88 in the detaching element 48, comprisinglateral perforations, which demarcates the upper peripheral edge of theskirt portion 52 of the sleeve 10 i. After the upper portion 44 of thesleeve 10 i is detached, the notches 92 are removed, allowing theadjacent portions of the skirt portion 52 to be deflected at anincreased angle to the base portion 50 as shown in FIG. 19.

[0069] Sleeve 10 j, shown in FIG. 20, is an example of a sleeveconstructed generally in accordance with the invention as describedherein except the sleeve 10 j has an upper portion 94 which isconstructed of a material different from a lower portion 95. The upperportion 94 and lower portion 95 are shown as bondingly connected along asealed area 96. The upper portion 94, along with a portion of the lowerportion 95 may be disconnected from each other via a detaching elementsuch as perforations 97 and 98, as described earlier.

[0070] It should be further noted that features of the versions of thepresent invention shown in FIGS. 1-20 such as gussets, closure bondingareas, support extensions, apertures, handles, additional perforationsand combinations of material may be used alone or in combination aselements of any of the embodiments described above herein.

[0071] Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of thevarious components, elements and assemblies described herein or in thesteps or the sequence of steps of the methods described herein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tubular sleeve for containing a pot having afloral grouping disposed therein, and having a lower end, an upper rim,an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface surroundingan inner retaining space, the tubular sleeve comprising: a base portionhaving an upper end, a lower end and an inner retaining space forenclosing the pot; a skirt portion comprising a plurality of portionswhich extend from the upper end of the base portion; and an upperportion having an upper end and extending a distance from the skirtportion and detachable therefrom via a plurality of perforations andwherein at least a portion of said plurality of perforations is spaced adistance from the lower end of the base portion, wherein said distanceis less than half of a length between the upper end of the upper portionand the lower end of the base portion, and wherein when the upperportion is detached from the skirt portion after the pot has beendisposed within the base portion, the plurality of portions of the skirtportion extend beyond the upper rim of the pot.
 2. The tubular sleeve ofclaim 1 wherein the base portion has an open lower end.
 3. The tubularsleeve of claim 1 wherein the base portion has a closed lower end. 4.The tubular sleeve of claim 3 wherein the closed lower end has a drainhole.
 5. The tubular sleeve of claim 1 wherein the base portion has adrain hole.
 6. The tubular sleeve of claim 1 wherein the base portion istapered.
 7. The tubular sleeve of claim 1 wherein the plurality ofperforations have a non-linear pattern.
 8. The tubular sleeve of claim 1wherein the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and enclosethe floral grouping disposed within the pot.
 9. The tubular sleeve ofclaim 1 wherein the lower end of the base portion has a gusset therein.10. The tubular sleeve of claim 1 wherein the upper portion is adaptedto enable the tubular sleeve to be supported on a support assembly.